NEW YORK—Wal-Mart Stores, the world’s largest retailer, has named Lee Culpepper, its top lobbyist in Washington, D.C. to a new role as vice president of corporate affairs its headquarters in Bentonville, Ark.

Culpepper, who was vice president of Wal-Mart’s federal government relations office in D.C., will move to Bentonville this summer to fill a position that has been vacant since late last year, when Bob McAdam left the company to join Darden Restaurants. Culpepper will oversee Wal-Mart’s reputation advertising and research, and its outreach to key constituent groups.